Featured Jazz Videos

The Endless Wait

Brenda Earle Stokes
Duration: 5:08
549 views

Brenda Earle Stokes' Motherhood is a collection of 10 original songs that deal with the laughter, the frustration, the joy and the tears of motherhood. Deeply rooted in traditional and jazz styles, the album features Grammy winning fellow Canadian mother Ingrid Jensen on trumpet.

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

Live from Con Alma

Ryan Devlin
Duration: 3:19
949 views

Ryan Devlin, a 27-year-old saxophonist and woodwind instructor living in Boston, grew up in a musical household where his father, Scott Devlin, led the Walt Disney World Sax Quartet. Surrounded by music, Ryan's interest was sparked early on, and at age 9, after three years of piano, he asked his dad to teach him the saxophone. Since then, Ryan has been practicing, gigging, and teaching every day. He completed a Jazz Performance master’s degree at The New England Conservatory in 2023 under saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi and now teaches at Newton South High School. Ryan has performed extensively across the United States and Canada, collaborating with many notable musicians and earning accolades like the 2017 Central Florida Jazz Society Scholarship Competition.

Recommended by Oh! Jazz.

On a Journey, Ailing

Wataru Uchida
Duration: 3:41
1,367 views

Tabi ni yande
yume wa kareno o
kake-meguru

On a journey, ailing,
my dream goes running
over the withered field.
(English translation)

This is the last haiku ever written by the 17th century Japanese poet Basho Matsuo, dictated from his deathbed in a rented room in Osaka in 1694. A few days later he was dead. Tough times may often seem to last forever, but at least your imagination can remain as active as it was in your childhood.

This album has 8 tunes that I wrote between 2022 and 2024, and one that I wrote in 2015. By the time of the recording session, it had been 24 years since I moved to New York City. And This Japanese man has grown old.

The blessings and challenges I've encountered in this city have provided the framework for my understanding of life.

Just as you need both light and shadow to perceive the form of something, now I realize I require both aspects to comprehend its entirety. In this project, my intention wasn't to record solely happy or sad tunes. Each composition lies somewhere in between, expressing abstract impressions or sound of appreciation and affirmation.

I recorded music with two excellent Brooklyn-based musicians, creating pieces we had never heard before. It's as if someone might have whispered a spell to share each individual's history of emotions.

—Wataru Uchida

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

King of Pain

Rachel Z
Duration: 08:25
744 views

Jazz musicians have long been adept at blending first principles of swing and improvisation with current forms of popular music. Therefore, it is only a bit surprising that pianist Rachel Z makes The Police song “King of Pain” feel so good. The small surprises are that: this live performance is much more engaging than the original studio recording; her trio, The Department of Good and Evil, strikes an ideal balance of jazzy and rock rhythms; and she first quotes the acoustic jazz number “Pools” from her ‘90s work with Steps Ahead before covering the rock tune. Watch this video--the cover kicks in at [1:44]--and discover why Rachel Z is considered one of the most successful jazz/rock crossover artists over the last three decades, recognized by Wayne Shorter, Peter Gabriel, Najee and others.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Song to an Old Friend

Jakob Bro
Duration: 05:56
764 views

All About Jazz writer Robert Middleton has published a thoroughly researched and affectionate article entitled Saxophone Meets Guitar: The Dynamic Duo of Jazz In addition to his playlist of 463 inspiring songs from the genre, consider also “Song to an Old Friend" by Danish guitarist Jakob Bro with legendary tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano. This piece takes down the tempo to “ECM label chill," allowing the listener to appreciate how complementary the sounds of these two instruments can be. Sax vibrato begets guitar with chorus; sax grit from the throat is matched with guitar distortion from an effects box. With the audio released on a tribute recording to drummer Paul Motian called Once Around the Room, this video captures the performers' subtle chemistry in the studio.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Bob Holz In Concert 2023

Bob Holz
Duration: 8:16
753 views

Bob Holz live at Catalina Bar in Hollywood, California with Ralphe Armstrong (bass), Brandon Fields (saxophone), Billy Steinway (keyboards) and Alex Machacek (guitar).

The Secret Rhodes Piano Room: A Deep Dive

Jeff Lorber
Duration: 75:13
1,139 views

We published an article highlighting Ten Supreme Fender Rhodes Albums. Zawinul, Hancock and Corea are among the honored keyboardists. To immerse yourself further in the Rhodes sound, watch the video documentary “The Secret Rhodes Piano Room: A Deep Dive.” It features jazz fusion pioneer, keyboardist Jeff Lorber sitting down at vintage instrument restoration specialist Ben Bove’s Rhodes collection. There’s over an hour of jamming, instrument comparisons and sound adjustments—but if you only have a few minutes, check out the grooves from [14:31] to [20:52].

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

Why (Am I Treated So Bad)

Cannonball Adderley
Duration: 7:59
1,026 views

Highlighting Joe Zawinul's Fender Rhodes work on Cannonball Adderley and the Nat Adderley Sextet's “Why" from Walk Tall: The David Axelrod Years. Related: Ten Supreme Fender Rhodes Albums.

Recommended by Michael Ricci.

Imagine the Sound

Cecil Taylor
Duration: 06:25
1,434 views

Those exploring the evolution of jazz need to appreciate the genius of pianist Cecil Taylor. From the '60s to the '90s, he invented treatments of free jazz that demonstrated it could be liberated from traditional forms of harmony and melody while retaining a classical composition’s structure. Pounding out flurries of sound, he also reminded us that a piano is both a string and a percussive instrument. This segment, from the 1981 free jazz documentary Imagine the Sound, presents Taylor’s solo performance powers at their pinnacle. For further study of free jazz, the entire documentary can be searched for by title on YouTube.

Recommended by Scott Lichtman.

It's Donny Time

Matt Dwonszyk
Duration: 7:26
977 views

Donny Time: The Music of Don DePalma is a tribute album shining light on the legendary pianist from Hartford, Connecticut. The majority of the album was recorded after Don’s passing due to Covid in May of 2021. It features an all-star line up, all former band mates of Don, playing their hearts out on Don’s original compositions and arrangements.

Recommended by Michael Ricci.